The French Revolution "Bourgeois" Phase: 1789-1792

Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI The French Monarchy: 1775 - 1793 Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

Let Them Eat Cake! Marie Antoinette NEVER said that! “Madame Deficit” “The Austrian Whore”

Socio-Economic Data, 1789

The French Urban Poor

Financial Problems in France, 1789 Urban Commoner’s Budget: Food 80% Rent 25% Tithe 10% Taxes 35% Clothing 20% TOTAL 170% King’s Budget: Interest 50% Army 25% Versailles 25% Coronation 10% Loans 25% Admin. 25% TOTAL 160%

Where is the tax money?

The Suggested Voting Pattern: Voting by Estates Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 1 Commoners 3rd Estate Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

The Number of Representatives in the Estates General: Vote by Head! Clergy 1st Estate 300 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 300 648 Commoners 3rd Estate

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes 1st What is the Third Estate? Everything! 2nd What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing! 3rd What does it demand? To become something therein! Abbé Sieyès 1748-1836

Convening the Estates General May, 1789 Last time it was called into session was 1614!

“The Third Estate Awakens” The commoners finally presented their credentials not as delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the nation.” They proclaimed themselves the “National Assembly” of France.

“The Tennis Court Oath” by Jacques Louis David June 20, 1789

Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly. 18 died. 73 wounded. 7 guards killed. It held 7 prisoners [5 ordinary criminals & 2 madmen].

Night Session of August 4, 1789 Before the night was over: The feudal regime in France had been abolished. All Frenchmen were, at least in principle, subject to the same laws and the same taxes and eligible for the same offices. Equality & Meritocracy!

National Constituent Assembly 1789 - 1791 Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! August Decrees August 4-11, 1789 (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)

BUT . . . . . Feudal dues were not renounced outright [this had been too strong a threat to the principle of private property!] Peasants would compensate their landlords through a series of direct payments for obligations from which they had supposedly been freed. Therefore, the National Assembly made revolutionary gestures, but remained essentially moderate. Their Goal Safeguard the right of private property!!

The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris. The Tricolor (1789) The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris. Citizen!

Revolutionary Symbols Cockade Liberté La Republic Revolutionary Clock

Revolutionary Playing Cards

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen August 26, 1789 Liberty! Property! Resistance to oppression! Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at this time.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Posed New Dilemmas Did women have equal rights with men? What about free blacks in the colonies? How could slavery be justified if all men were born free? Did religious toleration of Protestants and Jews include equal political rights?

The “October Days” (1789) The king was thought to be surrounded by evil advisors at Versailles so he was forced to move to Paris and reside at the Tuileries Palace.

Sir Edmund Burke (1790): Reflections on the Revolution in France The conservative response to the French Revolution

How to Finance the New Govt.? 1. Confiscate Church Lands (1790) One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.

2. Print Assignats Issued by the National Constituent Assembly. Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands as security.

Depreciation of the Assignat Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church land. The state would retire the notes as the land was sold. They began circulating as paper currency. Government printed more  INFLATION [they lost 99% of their value ultimately]. Therefore, future governments paid off their creditors with cheap money.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy July 12, 1790 Jurying vs. Non-Jurying [refractory] Clergy The oath of allegiance permanently divided the Catholic population!

New Relations Between Church & State Government paid the salaries of the French clergy and maintained the churches. The church was reorganized: Parish priests  elected by the district assemblies. Bishops  named by the department assemblies. The pope had NO voice in the appointment of the French clergy. It transformed France’s Roman Catholic Church into a branch of the state!! Pope Pius VI [1775-1799]

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791

The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government The king got the “suspensive” veto [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years]. He could not pass laws. His ministers were responsible for their own actions. A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly. Had the power to grant taxation. An independent judiciary.

The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government “Active” Citizen [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] could vote vs. “Passive” Citizen. 1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise. Domestic servants were also excluded. A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. GOAL  Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!

The Royal Family Attempts to Flee June, 1791 Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover]. Headed toward the Luxembourg border. The King was recognized at Varennes, near the border

Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Citizen (1791) Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793) Women played a vital role in the Revolution. But, The Declaration of the Rights of Man did NOT extend the rights and protections of citizenship to women. Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Citizen (1791)

The French Revolution "Radical" Phase: 1793-1794 Special Fonts: Biblo Display Black Chancery Davys Other Wingdings Edwardian Script ITC Even More Dings JL Nosferatu Press Writer Symbols Skullz

The “Second” French Revolution The National Convention: Girondin Rule: 1792-1793 Jacobin Rule: 1793-1794 [“Reign of Terror”] Thermidorian Reaction: 1794-1795 The Directory  1795-1799

The Causes of Instability in France 1792 - 1795 Attitudes & actions of monarchy & court Fear of Counter-Revolution Religious divisions The Causes of Instability in France 1792 - 1795 Economic Crises Political divisions War

The Jacobins Jacobin Meeting House They held their meetings in the library of a former Jacobin monastery in Paris. Started as a debating society. Membership mostly middle class. Created a vast network of clubs.

The Jacobins Jacobin Meeting House They held their meetings in the library of a former Jacobin monastery in Paris. Started as a debating society. Membership mostly middle class. Created a vast network of clubs.

The September Massacres, 1792 (The dark side of the Revolution!) Rumors that the anti-revolutionary political prisoners were plotting to break out & attack from the rear the armies defending France, while the Prussians attacked from the front. Buveurs de sang [“drinkers of blood.”] over 1000 killed! It discredited the Revolution among its remaining sympathizers abroad.

The National Convention (September, 1792) Its first act was the formal abolition of the monarchy on September 22, 1792. The Year I of the French Republic. The Decree of Fraternity it offered French assistance to any subject peoples who wished to overthrow their governments. When France sneezes, all of Europe catches cold!

The Political Spectrum TODAY: 1790s: The Plain (swing votes) Montagnards (“The Mountain”) Girondists Monarchíen (Royalists) Jacobins

The Politics of the National Convention (1792-1795) Montagnards Girondists Power base in Paris. Main support from the sans-culottes. Would adopt extreme measures to achieve their goals. Saw Paris as the center of the Revolution. More centralized [in Paris] approach to government. Power base in the provinces. Feared the influence of the sans-culottes. Feared the dominance of Paris in national politics. Supported more national government centralization [federalism].

Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793) The trial of the king was hastened by the discovery in a secret cupboard in the Tuilieres of a cache of documents. They proved conclusively Louis’ knowledge and encouragement of foreign intervention. The National Convention voted 387 to 334 to execute the monarchs.

Marie Antoinette Died in October, 1793

Attempts to Control the Growing Crisis Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris  try suspected counter-revolutionaries. Representatives-on-Mission sent to the provinces & to the army. had wide powers to oversee conscription. B. Watch Committees [comité de surveillance] keep an eye on foreigners & suspects. C. Sanctioned the trial & execution of rebels and émigrés, should they ever return to France.

Attempts to Control the Growing Crisis The printing of more assignats to pay for the war. Committee of Public Safety [CPS] to oversee and speed up the work of the government during this crisis. Committee of General Security [CGS] responsible for the pursuit of counter-revolutionaries, the treatment of suspects, & other internal security matters.

Committee for Public Safety Revolutionary Tribunals. 300,000 arrested. 16,000 – 50,000 executed.

Georges Jacques Danton (1759 – 1794)

Maximillian Robespierre (1758 – 1794)

Legislation Passed by the National Convention Law of General Maximum September 5, 1793. Limited prices of grain & other essentials to 1/3 above the 1790 prices & wages to ½ of 1790 figures. Prices would be strictly enforced. Hoarders rooted out and punished. Food supplies would be secured by the army! Law of Suspects September 17, 1793. This law was so widely drawn that almost anyone not expressing enthusiastic support for the republic could be placed under arrest!

The Reign of Terror Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre Let terror be the order of the day! The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 victims in 15 months. The total number of victims nationwide was over 20,000!

Different Social Classes Executed 7% 8% 28% 25% 31%

Religious Terror: De-Christianization (1793-1794) The Catholic Church was linked with real or potential counter-revolution. Religion was associated with the Ancien Régime and superstitious practices. Very popular among the sans-culottes. Therefore, religion had no place in a rational, secular republic!

The De-Christianization Program The adoption of a new Republican Calendar: abolished Sundays & religious holidays. months named after seasonal features. 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day decades. the yearly calendar was dated from the creation of the Republic [Sept. 22, 1792] The Convention symbolically divorced the state from the Church!!

The New Republican Calendar Vendemaire (Vintage) 22 September-21 October Brumaire (Fog) 22 October-20 November Frimaire (Frost) 21 November-20 December Nivose (Snow) 21 December-19 January Pluviose (Rain) 20 January-18 February Ventose (Wind) 19 February-20 March Germinal (Budding) 21 March-19 April Floreal (Flowers) 20 April-19 May Prairial (Meadows) 20 May-18 June Messidor (Harvest) 19 June-18 July Thermidor (Heat) 19 July-17 August Fructidor (Fruit) 18 August-21 September The New Republican Calendar New Name Meaning Time Period Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21 Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20 Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20 Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19 Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18 Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20 Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19 Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19 Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18 Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18 Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17 Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

A New Republican Calendar Year The Gregorian System returned in 1806. Vendemaire (Vintage) 22 September-21 October Brumaire (Fog) 22 October-20 November Frimaire (Frost) 21 November-20 December Nivose (Snow) 21 December-19 January Pluviose (Rain) 20 January-18 February Ventose (Wind) 19 February-20 March Germinal (Budding) 21 March-19 April Floreal (Flowers) 20 April-19 May Prairial (Meadows) 20 May-18 June Messidor (Harvest) 19 June-18 July Thermidor (Heat) 19 July-17 August Fructidor (Fruit) 18 August-21 September A New Republican Calendar Year I 1792 – 1793 II 1793 – 1794 III 1794 – 1795 IV 1795 – 1796 V 1796 – 1797 VI 1797 – 1798 VII 1798 – 1799 VIII 1799 – 1800 IX 1800 – 1801 X 1801 – 1802 XI 1802 – 1803 XII 1803 – 1804 XIII 1804 – 1805 XIV 1805 The Gregorian System returned in 1806.

The De-Christianization Program The public exercise of religion was banned. The Paris Commune supported the: destruction of religious & royal statues. ban on clerical dress. encouragement of the clergy to give up their vocations. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was turned into the “Temple of Reason.” The deportation of priests denounced by six citizens.

Backlash to the De-Christianization Program It alienated most of the population (especially in the rural areas). Robespierre never supported it. he persuaded the Convention to reaffirm the principle of religious toleration. Decree on the “Liberty of Cults” was passed December 6, 1793. BUT, it had little practical effect!

The Terror Intensified: March to July, 1794 Jacques Hébert & the Hérbetists Danton & the “Indulgents” Executed in March, 1794 Executed in April, 1794 Law of 22 Prairial [June 10, 1794]. Trials were now limited to deciding only on liberty OR death, with defendants having no rights. Were you an “enemy of the people?” (the law was so broadly written that almost anyone could fall within its definition!) 1,500 executed between June & July.

The “Thermidorean Reaction,” 1794 July 26  Robespierre gives a speech illustrating new plots & conspiracies. he alienated members of the CPS & CGS. many felt threatened by his implications. July 27  the Convention arrests Robespierre. July 28  Robespierre is tried & guillotined!

The “Cultural Revolution” Brought About by the Convention It was premised upon Enlightenment principles of rationality. The metric system of weights and measures Was defined by the French Academy of Sciences in 1791 and enforced in 1793. It replaced weights and measures that had their origins in the Middle Ages. The abolition of slavery within France in 1791 and throughout the French colonies in 1794. The Convention legalized divorce and enacted shared inheritance laws [even for illegitimate offspring] in an attempt to eradicate inequalities.

The French Revolution "Conservative" Phase: 1795-1799 Special Fonts: Biblo Display Black Chancery DavysOtherWingdings Edwardian Script ITC

The “Thermidorian Reaction” Curtailed the power of the Committee for Public Safety. Closed the Jacobin Clubs. Churches were reopened. 1795  freedom of worship for all cults was granted. Economic restrictions were lifted in favor of laissez-faire policies. August, 1795  a new Constitution is written more conservative republicanism.

Characteristics of the Directory The Paris Commune was outlawed. The Law of 22 Prairial was revoked. People involved in the original Terror were now attacked  “White” Terror Inflation continues. Rule by rich bourgeois liberals. Self-indulgence  frivolous culture; salons return; wild fashions. Political corruption. Revival of Catholicism.

The Government Structure of the New Directory 5-man executive committee or oligarchy [to avoid a dictatorship]. Tried to avoid the dangers of a one-house legislature. Council of 500  initiates legislation. Council of Elders [250 members]  married or widowed males over 40 years of age. They accepted or rejected the legislation. Both houses elected by electors who owned or rented property worth 100-200 days’ labor [limited to 30,000 voters]. The electors were elected by all males over 21 who were taxpayers.

Political Instability: 1795-1796 April, 1795  Inflation; bread riots. May 20, 1795  Revolt of Prairial [Year III October, 1795 : Military suppressed them. May, 1796  First “communist” revolt Vendée and Brittany revolted. Gracchus Babeuf and the Conspiracy of Equals”

18 Brumaire (Nov. 9, 1799) Coup d’état by Napoleon. Approved by a plebiscite in December. Abbe Sieyès: Confidence from below; authority from above.